The integration of work between an SCC mirror committee and an SCC-accredited SDO committee related to standards development involving the preparation of Canadian and international standards documents and deliverables with the objective of achieving the greatest practicable degree of commonality in accordance with policies and procedures of SCC and the applicable SDO.

Note: Harmonization of SCC mirror committees with the technical committee of an SCC-accredited SDO is done in accordance with CAN-P-1005 - Operational requirements for granting and maintaining SCC/SDO harmonization. 

Normally after a position is posted it takes up to three weeks for candidates selected for an interview to be advised. We appreciate the interest of all candidates, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Identify which position you are applying for and provide specific examples of how your background meets the position’s education, experience and language requirements.

When you apply on-line for a position, you will receive an automatic confirmation. Your application will remain on file in our database and will be considered for the specific position for which you have applied. If, in the future, your profile matches the requirements of a different posting, you may be notified of the match and will be invited to apply for the position.

SCC-accredited SDOs are required to ensure technical experts and affected stakeholders are involved when developing a standard, therefore, any SDO can develop standards in any area.

SCC revised the standards development program requirements to ensure greater clarity, consistency and responsiveness to the needs of Canadian stakeholders. All SCC-accredited SDOs have met the same requirements in order to receive SCC accreditation. The existing SDOs, through the Standards Development Organizations Advisory Committee (SDOAC), were consulted throughout the development of the 2017 Requirements & Guidance documents.

Key updates to the requirements include changes to the duplication resolution process and the implementation of a self-declaration framework. The improvements to the Duplication Resolution Mechanism (DRM) were made with the goal of reaching a timely outcome and a decision that is responsive to Canadian stakeholder needs. These changes include a more proactive role for SCC to facilitate discussions between SDOs, the introduction of specific evaluation criteria, a clearer complaint and appeal process, and a compliance and verification process with Action Plan (issued following SCC decision on duplication).

The self-declaration framework was introduced to allow SCC-accredited SDOs in good standing to self-declare compliance with SCC’s Requirements & Guidance documents for the publication of their standards as NSCs. The proposed self-declaration framework is based on a careful review of existing process controls, which highlighted opportunities for improvement. These improvements make the process simpler, more efficient and reduce administrative burden, while still maintaining the high-trusted value of National Standards of Canada. For a list of SDOs that have been granted self-declaration status, please visit our directory of accredited SDOs.

For the purposes of the Standards Council's Member Program, you are a member if you are not an employee of the Standards Council, but find yourself doing most or all of the following:

• undertaking tasks or responsibilities on behalf of the Standards Council;
• taking part in policy committees, technical committees, sub-committees or task, working or ad-hoc groups of these committees; or assessments as part of an accreditation program;
• offering your time, skills, knowledge and energy to advance the objectives of the Standards Council;
• representing Canada in regional or international standardization forums;
• working on behalf of your organization or stakeholder group in partnership with the Standards Council and the National Standards System; or
• doing all of this because of your background or expertise in a particular subject area.

Members are expected to demonstrate:

• active participation, commitment, willingness to undertake committee work, and prepare required reports and meeting documents;
• ability and willingness to meet and respect deadlines, and follow SCC procedures, directives and terms of reference;
• ability to travel and attend meetings nationally/internationally;
• commitment to participate in committee work electronically and in-person;
• sufficient time, resources, and financial support to actively participate on committees;
• representation of stakeholder groups and views;
• ability to work within a group environment; and
• the knowledge and technical expertise related to the committee or group.

We recommend that you apply to a specific volunteer position that is advertised and that suits your qualifications. However, you may also apply to a specific technical committee or subcommittee that suits your qualifications. 

1. Review applications
2. Compile short-list of candidates
3. Phone screen interviews
4. Conduct interviews
5. Offer volunteer position to candidate

SCC represents Canada in key regional and international standardization forums, including the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). SCC offers technical support and advice to Canadian government and industry on trade issues related to standardization.

SCC recruits business experts, scientists, engineers, technologists and standardization professionals to sit on key ISO and IEC technical committees. These experts inject a Canadian perspective into international standards. Their participation is key to promoting trade, stimulating our economy, and protecting the health and safety of citizens here in Canada, and around the world. 

If you are interested in getting involved in standardization  join one of our committees.

For complete information on how to participate in international standardization visit: Get Involved in Standardization. 

For more information, visit Canadian Standards Development: Program Overview.

A standard may be withdrawn if it:

• is not up-to-date technically
• does not reflect current practice or research
• is not suitable for new and existing applications (products, systems or processes)
• is not compatible with current views and expectations regarding quality, safety and the environment

This status is also used if:

• the standard is withdrawn and not replaced by the author for any of the reasons mentioned above
• there has been a change in the standard designation (e.g. if CSA A1234-2000 is superseded by CSA B5678-2005)

In the broadest sense, a standard is anything that tells you how to do, test or identify something. For example, a recipe for spaghetti sauce is a standard. However, standards in government or business most often refer to a particular type of standard: a document developed by a committee of interested experts and published by a recognized standards body that provides independent and widely accepted guidance.

For more information, visit SCC’s orientation module Introduction to Standards and the Standards Council of Canada. 

Standards are developed through consensus by participating committees of affected stakeholders that may include representatives from industry, governments, academia and the public interest. These committees are organized and managed by an organization that specializes in the development of standards. In Canada, standards development organizations are accredited by the SCC.

For more information, visit SCC’s orientation module Introduction to Standards and the Standards Council of Canada.

International standards are developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). SCC coordinates Canada's input in international standardization work.

For more information, visit SCC’s orientation module Introduction to Canadian Participation in ISO and IEC.

For more information on how a standard is developed, visit Developing Standards.

To search for an NSC on SCC’s website:

• use the Search function (located in the top right-hand corner on www.scc.ca)
• select the tab labelled Standards
• under “Filter by type” select “Canadian Standards”

The search will provide all NSCs by publication date. You may further refine your search using the additional filters on the right side of the page. Scroll through the list and click on a standard’s number to read its description and to find out how to purchase a copy.

The designation of a standard as a NSC indicates that it is recognized as the official Canadian standard in a particular subject area or topic. Before a standard can become a national standard, it must be approved by SCC. Standards that include the prefix CAN as part of their reference number have been designated an NSC.

To be approved, an NSC has to meet certain requirements, including that it be:

• developed by consensus from a balanced committee of stakeholders,
• subjected to public scrutiny,
• published in both official languages,
• consistent with or incorporate existing international and pertinent foreign standards, and,
• not a barrier to trade.

NSCs may be developed in Canada or adopted, with or without changes, from international standards.

For more information see Requirements & Guidance: Approval of National Standards of Canada Designation

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) offers accreditation to laboratories that perform the analysis of all media used in mining exploration and processing. SCC provides formal recognition of competence of laboratories conducting mineral and mineral assay analysis in support of the mining and mining exploration industries. In order to add even greater value to its accreditation program, SCC accredits both single-element and multiple-element test methods for a wide variety of metals. SCC offers accreditation in the following mineral analysis disciplines:

• sediments
• rocks
• ores
• metal products
• tailings
• water
• vegetation

SCC provides formal recognition of competence for laboratories calibrating measuring instruments and reference standards for areas of metrology, including:

• Acoustics and vibration
• Dimensional
• Electrical
• Frequency and time
• Ionizing radiation
• Mechanical
• Photometric and radiometric
• Temperature
• Other

For more information For more information, please contact SCC Accreditation Services at accreditation@scc.ca. Laboratories seeking accreditation under this program should apply directly to NRC/CLAS (link is external). The NRC/CLAS contact is: Jeff Russell Leader, Assessment Services / CLAS / Measurement Science and Standards National Research Council Canada / Government of Canada Building M-36, room 1209, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0R6 Jeffery.Russell@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca / Tel: 613-991-4059

Accreditation is the formal verification of an organization's competence to carry out a specific function. SCC is Canada’s national accreditation body. It accredits testing and calibration laboratories, medical laboratories, inspection bodies, greenhouse-gas verifiers and validators, and organizations that develop standards. SCC also accredits organizations that certify persons, as well as those that certify conformity of products, processes, systems and services.

Additionally, SCC is the only monitoring authority in Canada that grants recognition to the OECD Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) program.

Because SCC accreditation is based on internationally recognized criteria, SCC accreditation provides confidence and credibility in products, systems and services both in Canada and abroad.

For more information  visit SCC’s orientation module Accreditation: Where standards, conformity and quality meet.

An organization can self-proclaim certification or compliance to any standard.

While "self-certifying" or "self-declaring" compliance to a standard doesn't carry the same weight as third-party certification (e.g. SCC or CSA), organizations that do this are not actually doing anything wrong or illegal.

However, if you are concerned that a business is falsely claiming third-party certification, it is up to you to do your due diligence and verify the certification. For instance, if the organization says it is UL certified for ISO 9001, then UL would be able to verify that this is accurate.

To report such a situation, notify the owner of the logo or certification body. The certifying organization would then be responsible for ensuring the validity of the claim and for any next steps should the company be falsely claiming certification.

Any question or variation in a certification mark should be raised with the issuing body. Certificates issued by a certification body typically include an identifying logo of an accreditation body on them. Using the name on the logo, you can check the accreditation body’s website for a directory of accredited certification bodies. Contact the certification body that issued the certificate to verify its validity.

Certification bodies accredited by SCC are listed in SCC’s Directory of Accredited Certification Bodies, however it does not contain information on certificates issued by the certification bodies.

SCC is well-respected in Canada and around the world and consistently delivers high-quality and rigorous accreditation services.

As a member and signatory to the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC), the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC), and the Inter-American Accreditation Cooperation (IAAC), SCC can assess according to ISO standards and is subject to regular evaluation itself.  Accreditation by SCC helps certification bodies deliver services with confidence.

The benefits of accreditation are many. Accreditation can help:

• Improve your product’s  or system’s quality and safety
• Demonstrate your market accountability
• Bring you global recognition
• Reduce costs and increase efficiency
• Reduce your risk
• Offer you a competitive advantage

This program specialty area (PSA) applies to the accreditation of laboratories conducting tests and measurements on threaded fasteners and providing services that support fastener production, such as plating, producers of material destined for fastener manufacture, and commercial laboratories offering testing services. Testing conducted in the fasteners PSA is divided into five major areas:

• Chemical analysis
• Mechanical and physical testing and inspection
• Non-destructive inspection
• Dimensional inspection
• Metallography

Any complaints with an accredited organization must be submitted in writing to that organization. If it is not handled to the satisfaction of the complainant, it can be raised with SCC. SCC will review the accredited organization’s handling of the complaint from a process perspective. Please note that SCC can only deal with complaints regarding the requirements (standards) to which the organization is accredited, and not in matters such as invoicing and compensation.

Contact SCC to determine if your existing accreditation can be transferred. If the accreditation body you are transferring from is a recognized signatory of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), the process of transferring is that much easier.

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) offers accreditation to laboratories that undertake forensic testing. One of the key activities forensic laboratories undertake is the testing of physical evidence often at a crime scene or the scene of an accident. In addition to testing the evidence and issuing reports, forensic scientists frequently provide testimony on the test results for judicial applications. To ensure that this evidence stands up to scrutiny in court, it is imperative that the testing methods used by the laboratory have proven and documented credibility. Accreditation provides assurance that a forensic laboratory has adhered to recognized practices and standards. Forensic accreditation is one of 10 SCC Accreditation Program Specialty Areas. SCC offers accreditation in the following forensic disciplines:

• Biology/DNA analysis
• Chemistry/Trace analysis
• Counterfeits
• Drug chemistry
• Equine drug testing
• Explosives
• Firearms and tool marks
• Questioned documents examination
• Toxicology

The sale of uncertified electrical equipment may be unlawful, depending on the type of equipment and the jurisdiction it is being sold within. The regulator for the region will have more information on what the restrictions are and how to report attempts to sell unapproved equipment. Contact the Safety Authority Branch in your province (e.g., Nova Scotia, British Columbia, Ontario) or, if the product is a consumer product, please contact the Consumer Product Safety Act Directorate.

SCC is a non-profit Crown Corporation and fees for its accreditation programs are in place for cost-recovery purposes. Each applicant pays an application fee and an assessment fee. Once accredited, a customer pays an annual fee and is responsible for the fees of the reassessment activities carried out by SCC. Travel and accommodation costs of the assessment team are aligned with Treasury Board of Canada guidelines. These fees are presented more specifically in the Fee Structure annexes of the program-specific Accreditation Agreement which is available on request.

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC), in partnership with the Communications Security Establishment (link is external) (CSE), offers accreditation for information technology (IT) security evaluation and testing laboratories. The CSE is a federal government agency that delivers information technology security solutions to the Canadian government. SCC provides formal recognition of competence of laboratories that perform testing in the following areas:

• Biometric device testing
• Common criteria product and system evaluations
• ITS product reviews
• Secure electronic commerce application evaluations
• Specialized commercial security device testing
• Vulnerability and tiger team testing

SCC does not develop standards or verify the conformity of products or services to standards but rather accredits the organizations that do. To find a certification body, visit the appropriate accreditation program on our website. 

In principle, the vast majority of Canadian and international standards are voluntary.

In practice, the demands of the marketplace make many standards mandatory. A bolt manufacturer whose products do not fit a standard nut, for example, will probably not have many customers.

Buyers who want to assess whether their suppliers provide goods that conform to standards have a number of options. They may take supplier’s word for it. They may check the products themselves. They may also insist that the supplier ask an independent third party to verify the products conformity. These third parties often indicate conformity by putting their own label, or mark, on the product.

Government regulators make a standard mandatory by referring to it in legislation. Provincial and territorial electrical codes, for example, require electrical products to conform to Canadian electrical safety standards. Under these regulations, products cannot be sold unless they have been tested and certified by a recognized conformity assessment body.

One way of recognizing conformity assessment bodies is through accreditation. SCC is Canada’s national accreditation body for organizations that provide standards-related conformity assessment services.

For more information visit SCC’s orientation module, Accreditation: Where Standards, quality and conformity meet about the value and importance of accreditation. SCC also has a searchable directory of accredited certification bodies. 

Plumbing fixtures of any kind, including sinks and bathtubs, must comply with the requirements outlined in the National Plumbing Code (NPC) as adopted by provincial and territorial authorities. 

Canadian provinces and territories are responsible for adopting the NPC, enforcing the mandatory requirements and confirming the acceptable certification marks for plumbing products, similar to electrical safety certification marks.

For technical questions on code requirements, we suggest contacting the Canadian provincial or territorial enforcing regulatory body or bodies, which can be found on the Code Authorities in Canada web page on the UL website. 

Canadian provincial and territorial regulators are responsible for regulating and enforcing gas and propane equipment and installations. Inspectors, contractors, distributors and manufacturers will ensure that the installation of natural gas and propane equipment, and storage and handling of propane, is in conformance with the CAN/CSA B149-10 Natural gas and propane installation code.

To review a list of provincial and territorial authorities responsible for gas-operated equipment, visit Code Authorities in Canada on the UL website.

SCC supports Canadians and Canadian businesses in a number of ways, most notably by overseeing and coordinating the work of Canada's standardization network. Standards can support Canadian innovation by spreading technological knowledge and increasing market acceptance of new or innovative products.

SCC can help your business get involved in international standards development as a way to assert Canadian influence in the global marketplace and embed Canadian innovation, technology, products and services into the standards setting process internationally. In doing so, SCC can also help your business access new markets, reduce cost/increase revenue, gain a competitive advantage globally and manage business risk.

For information about how standardization can help your business, visit Information for Business and Industry.

In Canada, information on importing and exporting can be obtained from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

Information on requirements that apply to imported products (such as whether they need to be certified as meeting particular standards) can be obtained from government organizations that administer these requirements. To search for the relevant mandatory requirements that apply to your product, refer to the database on the Canadian Legal Information website.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is dedicated to safeguarding food, animals and plants, which enhances the health and well-being of Canada's people, environment and economy. CBSA is responsible for the initial import inspection of food, agricultural inputs and agricultural products. The CFIA sets the policies and regulations for these importations and they are enforced by CBSA at Canadian entry points. As required, shipments are referred to the CFIA for follow-up action. A CFIA veterinarian inspects most importations of live animals on entry.

In Canada, information on importing and exporting can be obtained from the Canada Border Services Agency.

Information on requirements that apply to imported products (such as whether they need to be certified as meeting particular standards) can be obtained from government organizations that administer these requirements. To search for the relevant mandatory requirements that apply to your product, refer to the database on the Canadian Legal Information website.

As Canada’s standardization leader, SCC provides accreditation programs for laboratories, inspection bodies, product and personnel certifiers, and management systems certification bodies. Our accredited bodies will provide testing and certification services for organizations operating in a wide variety of industry sectors.

However, SCC does not have regulatory authority in its mandate. Any mandatory standards or specifications and related conformity assessment requirements need to be reviewed with the proper federal, provincial or territorial regulatory authority.

For technical questions on code requirements, we suggest contacting the Canadian provincial or territorial enforcing regulatory body or bodies, which can be found on the Code Authorities in Canada web page on the UL website.

SCC accredits organizations that certify the management systems of medical device manufacturers. SCC is no longer accepting applicants into the (Canadian Medical Devices Conformity Assessment System (CMDCAS) program. For more information, please contact the Health Canada, Therapeutic Products Directorate.

The Standards Council of Canada’s (SCC’s) Energy Management Systems Accreditation Program assesses the competence of bodies that intend to certify organizations in their implementation of the international standard, ISO 50001 – Energy Management Systems.

By establishing energy management systems and processes in accordance with ISO 50001, organizations can improve their overall energy performance, including energy efficiency, use and consumption. These improvements can lead to significant energy cost savings, as well as reduce an organization’s greenhouse gas emissions (carbon footprint), and other adverse environmental impacts.

SCC’s Energy Management Systems Accreditation Program accredits certification bodies that certify energy management systems in the following sectors:

•          Commercial buildings

•          Light and medium industry

•          Heavy industrial

•          Transportation

•          Building complex energy use

•          Energy providers

Food Safety management systems provide a framework for effectively managing the safety of food supply chain, from “farm to fork.” The international standard for food safety management brings together generally recognized food safety practices and is suitable for any organization along the entire food chain, including related organizations such as manufacturers and producers of food equipment, packaging material, cleaning agents, additives and ingredients.

Recognized as an accreditation body by the Foundation for Food Safety Certification under the Food Safety System Certification 22000 scheme, SCC is able to offer accreditation to certification bodies that are interested in auditing and certifying food safety systems of food manufacturers.

The FSSC 22000 scheme, which is based on the certification requirements of ISO 22000 and BSI-PSA 220, is formally recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) accredits certification bodies that assess and certify food safety management systems to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard ISO 22000 Food Safety Management.

SCC offers accreditation for cannabis testing labs in Canada and beyond. The applicable standard is ISO/IEC 17025:2017 – General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. During the accreditation process, we can assess competence to perform multiple tests important to the cannabis industry, including but not limited to:

• Quantification of multiple types of cannabinoids, including THC, CBD, CBN, etc.
• Pesticide residue screening
• Analysis of loss due to drying
• Identification of male and female cannabis plants
• Microbial analysis of cannabis samples

Accredited laboratories typically operate more efficiently and produce more accurate test results. Accreditation also sends an important signal to customers that testing is based on the latest, most accurate, validated methods.

This accreditation program provides formal recognition of competence of laboratories providing testing services that include, but are not limited to:

• Allergens analysis
• Organic and inorganic chemistry analysis
• Plant protection: bacterial, fungal, viral, viroid, and nematode, presence of disease and seeds analysis
• Qualitative and quantitative microbiological analysis
• Veterinary analysis for animal health testing   

SCC provides formal recognition of competence for laboratories calibrating measuring instruments and reference standards for areas of metrology, including:

• Acoustics and vibration
• Dimensional
• Electrical
• Frequency and time
• Ionizing radiation
• Mechanical
• Photometric and radiometric
• Temperature
• Other

The Standards Council of Canada’s (SCC) Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program provides formal recognition of competence for laboratories carrying out environmental tests, and enables laboratories to better meet their obligations to regulators.

Approximately 120 parameters can be accredited within the following environmental fields of testing:

• Inorganics - water and soil
• Microbiology - water
• Occupational health - air filters
• Organics - water and soil
• PCB - oil
• Toxicology - water
• Other

SCC also offers accreditation to laboratories conducting drinking water testing under the Ontario Safe Drinking Water Act. Under the terms of its agreement with the Ontario provincial government, SCC assesses the ability of laboratories to perform drinking water tests, and is solely responsible for approval of their accreditation.